Kindergarten Philosophy
For many children, attending kindergarten will be their first formal schooling experience. It is our goal to ensure that every child has a positive start and that each student receives challenging, yet achievable, instruction throughout the year.
Large group, small group, and individualized instruction ensure that your child’s learning needs are met, and a variety of hands-on materials and sensory experiences allow for active involvement. All students receive classroom instruction based on a district-wide curriculum, including reading, writing, speaking, listening, math, health, social studies, science, and character education.
A copy of the Welcome to Kindergarten brochure will be available at all schools during registration. For additional copies, or further information regarding kindergarten, please call your child’s school.
Kindergarten Philosophy
LPS encourages self-respect and self-confidence in students. Teachers try to help students continue to inquire, learn and respond successfully to change. Upon starting school, many children already have developed these characteristics. A child’s first impression of school and the people they meet will have an impact on the child’s feelings about school and themselves. It’s important that all children feel good about their early school experiences.
When a child starts school, it may be the first time away from parents/guardians and the first experience in organized education. There are several things you can do to promote a child’s health, safety and well-being, and to make the first days of school happy ones.
Here are some ideas you can use to promote a successful school experience:
A. Give your child a sense of security and a feeling of belonging.
1.Show affection through closeness and gentleness.
2.Give approval more often than correction.
3.Include your child in family activities.
4.Avoid comparing your child with others, because everyone learns at a different time and rate.
B. Help your child look forward to pleasant experiences at school.
1.Talk about school being a place where a child participates in many exciting things.
2.Reinforce what your child already knows and can do, rather than worry your child
about what he/she will have to know and do at school.
3.Talk about the friendships that will develop at school.
4.Support and encourage your child’s effort when he/she tries new things.
5.If you are feeling anxious about kindergarten, do not express those feelings to your child.
C. Make certain your child’s health and safety comes first.
1.Schedule a physical exam before school begins.
2.Provide for necessary physical corrections (such as glasses) before school starts.
3.Make sure recommended immunizations are given.
4.Establish good health habits in relation to meals, bathroom and rest (e.g., washing hands.)
5.Keep your child home if he/she has a cold or is not feeling well.
6.Send a note to the teacher when special attention is needed.
7.Teach your child her/his name, parents’/guardian’s names, address, and telephone number.
8.Teach your child how to walk safely to and from school, including where to cross streets, how to obey traffic signals, staying on the sidewalk and crossing only at corners.
9. Discuss with the teacher any physical, emotional, social or mental conditions that may affect your child’s progress in school.
10. Contact the school nurse if your child has special health care needs.
D. Dress your child in clothing that allows for active participation.
1.Choose easy care clothing.
2.Label clothing, such as coats, jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, boots, gloves, backpacks
and lunch boxes with your child’s name so they do not get lost or mixed up with another child’s belongings.
3.Provide suitable and comfortable clothing that your child can easily manage alone.
E. Help your child develop independence.
1.Give your child special tasks at home that are within her/his ability.
2.Encourage your child to pick up personal belongings.
3.Make sure your child is able to use the bathroom independently.
4.Listen attentively when your child is talking.
5.Encourage adult speech, rather than baby talk.
6.Practice zipping, buttoning, snapping and tying clothes and shoes with your child.
F. Show your child that you are interested in school and that school is important.
1.Welcome your child’s voluntary talk about school, but don’t insist that a full report be made on all experiences. Ask open-ended questions about your child’s day, such as, “What was the best thing about school today?”
2.Attend activities at school, such as parent-teacher conferences, open houses, curriculum nights and school programs.
3.Take part in school activities, such as class trips, parties, parent classes and groups.
4.Take an interest in papers, projects and artwork created at school.
G. Help your child be successful in school.
1.See that attendance is regular.
2.See that your child arrives at school on time.
3.Select a place in your home for your child to keep items needed for school, such as a backpack and library books.
4.Expect the same type of growth that the school expects by not urging skills that are beyond the level of your child.
5.Select appropriate television programs for your child, and limit the time your child watches television and plays video games.
6.Read to your child and tell stories. Encourage your child to retell stories with your help.
7.Give your child out-of-school experiences, such as museums, parks, zoos, fairs, grocery shopping and visits to the library.
8.Play games with your child.
9.Maintain contact with your child’s teacher. Call, email, or send a note when you have questions. Inform the teacher of days when your child will be absent.
10. Inform the teacher if there is a change in whom your child will be going home with or how your child will get home.
H. Help your child grow literacy skills at home.
1.Talk to your child. Ask your child “how” and “what” questions. These require more than a yes or no answer.
2.Read to your child. This exposes them to new words, language and concepts.
2.Talk about letters and words. Make it a game to look for letters. Count the words on signs or packages.
4.Help your child learn to write his/her name in lowercase letters with the first letter capitalized.
5.For more ideas go to this website to see a video of ways to support your child’s literacy skills during the kindergarten school year: http://bit.ly/1OXb5y3.
If you have questions regarding your child’s readiness for kindergarten, contact your child’s school.
